Months before the NBA star and the couple's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash in January, he had released his new book, Epoca the Tree of Ecrof: Island of the Gods — a fantasy fiction that featured a beautiful dedication to Vanessa.

"For Vanessa. Thank you for always being the Realist to my Dreamer," read the words inscribed in one of the opening pages of the book, which is about two kids from different backgrounds who meet at an elite sports school and join forces to overcome evil.

The mother of four — Vanessa also shares daughters Natalia, 17, and Bianka, three, and 10-month-old daughter Capri with Kobe — posted a photo of the dedication to Instagram on May 17 as she remembered her late husband.

"Always learning from the best. My Boo-Boo, my Dreamer....," she captioned the image of the dedication and novel, which Kobe released in November 2019, two months before his death.

Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant were married 18 years before he died in January 2020. (Instagram)

The former LA Lakers star was excited for his new book to come out — he was already a New York Times bestselling author, thanks to his first book, The Wizenard Series: Training Camp.

The second instalment of the series, The Wizenard Series: Season One, was to be Kobe's final project. It was released in March, two months after his death.

But Kobe's legacy will live on in Vanessa and their three surviving children, who are her focus right now. Over the weekend, she also shared extra cuddles and kisses with their youngest, Capri, who the family affectionately calls 'Koko Bean'.

"I love you Koko Bean," Vanessa wrote alongside a tender pic of the pair.

'Bean' was also Kobe's middle name, with the basketball star explaining the moniker on The Kelly Clarkson Show last November.

"The story that they've told me is that they were sitting in a Japanese steakhouse and saw Kobe beef on the menu and was like, 'Oh, that's a good name.' And then my middle name is Bean, so it's like steak and beans, like what you talking about here right now?" he joked before adding, "My father's nickname when he played was Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant. Still don't make sense, though."